FA Cup Returns to Centre Stage

For the second time this month, our weekly dose of English Premier League action will take a back seat this weekend for the world’s oldest knock-out competition – the FA Cup.

Unlike the league campaign, one major attraction of the knock-out competition is that there is no “discrimination” between the “elite teams” (i.e. those in the Premier League) and the others, which leaves room for upsets.

In fact the FA Cup banana peel has already made a number of the big clubs with Premier sides to slip, Newcastle United and West Brom already being victims.

Even ‘giants’ of the FA Cup, Manchester United and Arsenal, which between them have won 22 trophies, needed replays to squeeze past their Third Round opponents.

This weekend sees the stand out tie taking place at Old Trafford were Manchester United hosts fellow ‘elite team’ Fulham. Although the Red Devils have already got the better of Martin Jol’s side in the league 3-2, the unpredictability of the FA Cup means Sir Alex Ferguson will be wary of the banana peel.

With 16 matches spread over three days (the Fourth Round actually kicked of Friday with a game between Millwall and Aston Villa) fans should be in for a long weekend of quality football – especially as the competition will be played alongside the African Cup of Nations.

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FA Cup Returns to Centre Stage

For the second time this month, our weekly dose of English Premier League action will take a back seat this weekend for the world’s oldest knock-out competition – the FA Cup.

Unlike the league campaign, one major attraction of the knock-out competition is that there is no “discrimination” between the “elite teams” (i.e. those in the Premier League) and the others, which leaves room for upsets.

In fact the FA Cup banana peel has already made a number of the big clubs with Premier sides to slip, Newcastle United and West Brom already being victims.

Even ‘giants’ of the FA Cup, Manchester United and Arsenal, which between them have won 22 trophies, needed replays to squeeze past their Third Round opponents.

This weekend sees the stand out tie taking place at Old Trafford were Manchester United hosts fellow ‘elite team’ Fulham. Although the Red Devils have already got the better of Martin Jol’s side in the league 3-2, the unpredictability of the FA Cup means Sir Alex Ferguson will be wary of the banana peel.

With 16 matches spread over three days (the Fourth Round actually kicked of Friday with a game between Millwall and Aston Villa) fans should be in for a long weekend of quality football – especially as the competition will be played alongside the African Cup of Nations.

Please leave your comment below. Your name will appear next to your comment. We'll also keep you updated by email whenever someone else comments on this page. Your comment will appear on this page once it has been approved by a moderator.